Gzira United will be facing Viktoria Plzen of Czechia in the first leg of the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League at the Stadion města Plzně in Plzen on Thursday, kick-off at 19:00.
This is the second consecutive year, Gzira are playing in the third qualifying round after eliminating Atletic Club d’Escaldes and FK Radnicki, losing out to Wolfsberger last season.
The Maroons reached this stage after eliminating Glentoran 14-13 on penalties following a 3-3 aggregate score in the first qualifying round and beating F91 Diddeleng 3-2 on aggregate in the second qualifying round.
In both rounds, Gzira showed character and they will definitely do the same against Viktoria Plzen who are a much stronger side who makes it to the group stage of UEFA competitions on a quite regular basis.
Football Club Viktoria Plzeň are based in Plzeň, Czechia. They won the championship six times, the Czech Cup once and the Super Cup twice.
As losing finalists in the 1970/71 Czechoslovak Cup, the club made its first appearance in European football in the following season’s Cup Winners’ Cup. They returned to European football in 2010 and have been representing Czechia on a regular basis since then.
In 2011/12, they reached the group stage of the UEFA Champions League and were then eliminated from the Round of 32 of the UEFA Europa League. In 2012/13 and 2013/14, they were eliminated from the Round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League. In 2015/16 and 2016/17, they were eliminated from the group stage of the UEFA Europa League and in 2017/18, they reached the Round of 16 of the Europa League. The following season, they reached the Round of 32 of the Europa League. Last year, they made it to the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.
After finishing third in the Czech Liga last season, Viktoria Plzeň entered the UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round and following a goalless draw at home, they registered a dramatic 2-1 win over Drita of Kosovo in the second leg.
The second leg between Gzira and Viktoria Plzen will be played at the National Stadium on August 17. A clash with FC Tobol Kostanay of Kazakhstan or Irish side Derry City FC awaits the winner.